Johan Manzambi’s first goal at St James’ Park had a little extra edge to it. Newcastle United had appeared close to taking the Swiss midfielder before Aston Villa stepped in, and the 21-year-old’s strike settled Villa’s 1-0 win on a ground where the home side may now wonder what might have been.
For Unai Emery, however, there was no mistaking the value of a player Villa made their record signing for £60 million. Manzambi has returned from the knee problem that ruled him out of the opening five matches of the campaign and has quickly become one of the division’s most productive new arrivals, with three goals and two assists across his last four appearances.
A swift rise from Freiburg to Villa Park
- Manzambi, born in Geneva in 2005, enjoyed an outstanding previous season with Freiburg, registering seven goals and nine assists in 47 matches.
- Those displays helped Freiburg reach the Europa League final, where Aston Villa won 3-0, while Manzambi was named the competition’s Young Player of the Tournament.
- He then made a considerable impression at the World Cup, scoring three times and supplying two assists in four appearances before a knee knock kept him out of the last-16 and quarter-final ties.
- Newcastle looked set to secure his signature, but Villa instead brought him in after their Europa League final victory over Freiburg, paying a club-record £60 million.
- Having missed Villa’s first five fixtures while recovering from his knee issue, he marked his return to form with the winner against Newcastle.
The Newcastle goal came three days after another landmark night. On his 21st birthday, Manzambi played his first Champions League match and scored in Villa’s 6-0 victory over Fenerbahçe.
“I’m very happy,” Manzambi said after that occasion. “It was my first Champions League match, my first goal, and it was my birthday. My family were there, so it was very special.”
After the Newcastle win, he made clear that the points mattered more than settling any transfer sub-plot, though he was pleased to be on the scoresheet again. He said he had faced Villa in the Europa League final and already knew them to be a strong side with an excellent manager, adding that he felt the move was the right fit.
Emery sees a player for the present and future
The win at Newcastle was Emery’s 100th in the Premier League, and the Villa manager has been enthusiastic about the impact of his newest attacking midfielder.
“In one year, wow, he improved very quickly,” Emery said. “He kept progressing and getting better. We tried to sign him and we did it; he is fantastic. He wanted to join Villa and produce that level for the next three or four years, and he has had a very positive impact.”
Emery’s description of Manzambi explains why Villa were prepared to break their transfer record. The manager believes the Swiss international can carry the ball, arrive in the box, create chances and score, while also bringing the physicality required to contribute without the ball.
“He is versatile,” Emery said. “He can drive forward, get into the area, assist and score. He has quality and intelligence, and his physical side is also very important, both defensively and when we are trying to hold up in attacking duels.”
For all the attention on the fee, Manzambi’s recent output has begun to make the investment look rather more straightforward. A Europa League young player award, a World Cup breakthrough and a lively beginning in the Premier League make for a fairly packed rise already. Emery is convinced there is still more to come.
“Now we are seeing how important he will be, in the present and in the future,” the Villa manager said.